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How to Measure Postage Stamps

Postage stamps are adhesive pieces of paper which serve as evidence for a fee paid for postal services. They form the most common way for individuals to pay for mail services and they are widely available for purchase at post offices and retail vendors, such as shops and drug stores. They may be used on letters, postcards, and magazines. Although most stamps are standard size, an individual, such as a collector, may wish to measure a postage stamp for cataloguing or personal interest.

Things You'll Need

Stamp
Ruler
Pen
Paper

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the stamp that you wish to measure. If the stamp is particularly rare or valuable, be sure to handle the stamp with dull plastic tweezers, called philatelic tongs, specifically designed for this use. This will help protect the stamp from accidental tearing or soiling.
- 2
  Place the stamp on a sheet of paper or a clean surface, such as a table or desk. Use your philatelic tongs if necessary.
- 3
  Decide whether to use the United States Customary System, sometimes referred to as the English system, or the Metric system.
- 4
  Place the ruler carefully alongside the stamp and note the measurement. Write it down for future reference.
- 5
  Measure the remaining three sides of the stamp by repeating the above step. Note the measurements.

Stamp Collecting